Thursday, June 26, 2014

This is an "Ema". "Ema" are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshipers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them. They bear various pictures, often of animals or other Shinto imagery, and many have the word gan'i (願意), meaning "wish", written along the side. In ancient times people would donate horses to the shrines for good favor, over time this was transferred to a wooden plaque with a picture of a horse, and later still to the various wooden plaques sold today for the same purpose.

Ema are sold for various wishes. Common reasons for buying a plaque are for success in work or on exams, marital bliss, to have children, and health. Some shrines specialize in certain types of these plaques, and the larger shrines may offer more than one. Sales of ema help support the shrine financially.

This is an "Ema". "Ema" are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshipers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them. They bear various pictures, often of animals or other Shinto imagery, and many have the word gan'i (願意), meaning "wish", written along the side. In ancient times people would donate horses to the shrines for good favor, over time this was transferred to a wooden plaque with a picture of a horse, and later still to the various wooden plaques sold today for the same purpose.

Ema are sold for various wishes. Common reasons for buying a plaque are for success in work or on exams, marital bliss, to have children, and health. Some shrines specialize in certain types of these plaques, and the larger shrines may offer more than one. Sales of ema help support the shrine financially.

********This Ema is from Samukawa Shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is a Shinto shrine. The shrine is located on the bank of the Sagami River, about eight kilometers from the river’s mouth. This is a wood plaque in year of pig, Heisei period.

It measures about 15 x 8.5cm x 1 cm. It is February in the 7th year of the Heisei era (= 1995).

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

These are really cute Japanese sticker flakes. 105 summer stickers in
total in 10 different styles and 10 of each sticker with 5 bigger
stickers. Each sticker has different patterns with hand fan, soda,
watermelon, beer, wind chime, sandals, straw hat. so cute stickers!!

It
is called "summer selection peaceful seal ochugen" by MINDWAVE (Chūgen
(中元), also Ochūgen (お中元), is an annual event in Japan on the 15th day of
the 7th lunar month, when people give gifts to their superiors and
acquaintances. One of the three days that form the sangen (三元?) of
Daoism, it is sometimes considered a Zassetsu in the Japanese calendar.
Originally it was an annual event for giving gifts to the ancestral
spirits.)

These are perfect for scrapbooking, card making or any project you can think of!

This is simple yet elegant! There are One Hundred Verses by Sen No rikyuu (1522-1591) on this hand fan . The colors are pink and black. The wood is bamboo.

Sen no Rikyu the noted tea master, wrote 100 verses of poetry imparting moral wisdom about life. These teachings have been intricately engraved onto this classic shudei teapot by one of the finest engravers in Japan today.

These are cute onigiri rice ball cases. These are small so perfect for kids! These may be originally intended to be used for onigiri (rice balls) but they are perfect for small snacks like mini crackers, candy etc.

You can also make onigiri rice balls by this as onigiri rice ball molds.

This is an "Ema". "Ema" are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them. They bear various pictures, often of animals or other Shinto imagery, and many have the word gan'i (願意), meaning "wish", written along the side. In ancient times people would donate horses to the shrines for good favor, over time this was transferred to a wooden plaque with a picture of a horse, and later still to the various wooden plaques sold today for the same purpose.

Ema are sold for various wishes. Common reasons for buying a plaque are for success in work or on exams, marital bliss, to have children, and health. Some shrines specialize in certain types of these plaques, and the larger shrines may offer more than one. Sales of ema help support the shrine financially.

Platforms with a red hi-mōsen are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (雛人形, hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period. The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period. Formerly, people believed the dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirits.